U.S. patent application number 11/082497 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-13 for phase locked loop with adaptive loop bandwidth.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Sohn, Young-Soo.
Application Number | 20050225366 11/082497 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35059984 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050225366 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sohn, Young-Soo |
October 13, 2005 |
Phase locked loop with adaptive loop bandwidth
Abstract
A semiconductor device that includes an adaptive phase locked
loop with improved loop stability and a faster locking rate. In one
embodiment, this is accomplished in a manner that does not require
an additional second charge pump for loop stability, and therefore
the resulting phase locked loop of the present invention consumes
less chip die area. In another embodiment, multiple charge pumps
are used and the resulting response time for locking is improved
over that which can be achieved by conventional embodiments.
Inventors: |
Sohn, Young-Soo;
(Seoul-city, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MILLS & ONELLO LLP
ELEVEN BEACON STREET
SUITE 605
BOSTON
MA
02108
US
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
35059984 |
Appl. No.: |
11/082497 |
Filed: |
March 17, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
327/156 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H03L 7/0891 20130101;
H03L 7/0893 20130101; H03L 7/093 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
327/156 |
International
Class: |
H03L 007/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 9, 2004 |
KR |
04-24570 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A phase locked loop comprising: a first charge pump that
receives first and second control signals generated in response to
a comparison of phases of a reference clock signal and a feedback
signal and that, in response, generates a first charge pump signal;
a loop filter comprising an operational amplifier having a first
input that receives the first charge pump signal, second and third
inputs that receive the first and second control signals
respectively, and a fourth input that receives a control voltage,
and an output that generates the control voltage in response to the
signals provided at the first, second, third and fourth inputs; and
a voltage controlled oscillator that receives the control voltage
signal and, in response, generates the feedback clock signal.
2. The phase locked loop of claim 1 further comprising a phase
detector that receives the reference clock signal and the feedback
clock signal, compares their respective phases, and generates the
first and second control signals in response to the comparison.
3. The phase locked loop of claim 1 further comprising a phase
frequency detector that receives the reference clock signal and the
feedback clock signal, compares their respective phases and
frequencies, and generates the first and second control signals in
response to the comparison.
4. The phase locked loop of claim 1 wherein the first control
signal comprises an up control signal and wherein the second
control signal comprises a down control signal.
5. The phase locked loop of claim 1 wherein the first control
signal is activated in response to the rising edge of the reference
clock signal and the second control signal is activated in response
to the rising edge of the feedback clock signal.
6. The phase locked loop of claim 1 wherein the operational
amplifier comprises: a first transistor, coupled between a first
voltage supply and a first node, and a gate of which is coupled to
a drain of which at a first node; a second transistor, coupled
between the first voltage supply and a second node, and a gate of
which is coupled to the first node; a third transistor and a fourth
transistor coupled in series between the first node and a third
node, a gate of one of the third and fourth transistors being
coupled to the first control signal and a gate of the other of the
third and fourth transistors being coupled to the first charge pump
signal; a fifth transistor, coupled between the first node and the
third node, and a gate of which is coupled to the first charge pump
signal; a sixth transistor and a seventh transistor coupled in
series between the second node and the third node, a gate of one of
the sixth and seventh transistors being coupled to the second
control signal and a gate of the other of the sixth and seventh
transistors being coupled to the control voltage signal; an eighth
transistor, coupled between the second node and the third node, a
gate of which is coupled to the control voltage signal; and a ninth
transistor, coupled between the third node and a ground reference
voltage, and a gate of which receives a voltage bias signal.
7. The phase locked loop of claim 6 wherein the first and second
transistors comprise PMOS transistors, and wherein third, fourth,
fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth transistors comprise NMOS
transistors.
8. The phase locked loop of claim 6 wherein the voltage bias signal
is derived from the first charge pump signal
9. The phase locked loop of claim 1 wherein the first charge pump
comprises a first current source and a first charge pump transistor
in series between a first voltage supply and a first node, and a
second charge pump transistor and a second current source in series
between the first node and a ground reference voltage, the first
charge pump transistor being activated in response to the first
control signal and the second charge pump transistor being
activated in response to the second control signal, the first
charge pump providing the charge pump signal at the first node.
10. The phase locked loop of claim 9 wherein the first charge pump
transistor comprises a PMOS transistor and wherein the first
control signal comprises an inverted up control signal; wherein the
second charge pump transistor comprises an NMOS transistor and
wherein the second control signal comprises a down control
signal.
11. The phase locked loop of claim 1 wherein the operational
amplifier of the loop filter comprises a first operational
amplifier and wherein the control voltage generated by the first
operational amplifier comprises a first control voltage, and
further comprising a second operational amplifier that receives the
first control voltage at a first input and that generates a second
control voltage that is provided to the voltage controlled
oscillator, a second input of the second operational amplifier
receiving the second control voltage via a feedback path.
12. The phase locked loop of claim 1 further comprising: a pulse
width filter that receives the first control signal, and in
response, generates a first auxiliary control signal when the first
control signal is active for greater than a first predetermined
time period; and that receives the second control signal, and in
response, generates a second auxiliary control signal when the
second control signal is active for greater than a second
predetermined time period; and a second charge pump that receives
the first and second auxiliary control signals and, in response,
generates an auxiliary charge pump signal, the auxiliary charge
pump signal being applied to the first input of the operational
amplifier in combination with the first charge pump signal.
13. The phase locked loop of claim 12 further comprising a control
signal generator that receives the first and second auxiliary
control signals and that, if either of the first and second
auxiliary control signals is active, generates a third control
signal, and wherein the operational amplifier includes a fifth
input that receives the third control signal, and generates the
control voltage further in response to the third control
signal.
14. The phase locked loop of claim 13 wherein the control signal
generator comprises an OR gate, a first input of which receives the
first auxiliary control signal, a second input of which receives
the second auxiliary control signal, and an output of which
provides the third control signal
15. The phase locked loop of claim 13 wherein the operational
amplifier comprises: a first transistor, coupled between a first
voltage supply and a first node, and a gate of which is coupled to
a drain of which at a first node; a second transistor, coupled
between the first voltage supply and a second node, and a gate of
which is coupled to the first node; a third transistor and a fourth
transistor coupled in series between the first node and a third
node, a gate of one of the third and fourth transistors being
coupled to the first control signal and a gate of the other of the
third and fourth transistors being coupled to the first charge pump
signal; an fifth transistor and a sixth transistor coupled in
series between the first node and the third node, a gate of one of
the fifth and sixth transistors being coupled to the third control
signal and a gate of the other of the fifth and sixth transistors
being coupled to the first charge pump signal; a seventh
transistor, coupled between the first node and the third node, a
gate of which is coupled to the first charge pump signal; an eighth
transistor and a ninth transistor coupled in series between the
second node and the third node, a gate of one of the eighth and
ninth transistors being coupled to the second control signal and a
gate of the other of the eighth and ninth transistors being coupled
to the control voltage signal; a tenth transistor and an eleventh
transistor coupled in series between the second node and the third
node, a gate of one of the tenth and eleventh transistors being
coupled to the third control signal and a gate of the other of the
tenth and eleventh transistors being coupled to the control voltage
signal; a twelfth transistor, coupled between the second node and
the third node, and a gate of which is coupled to the control
voltage signal; and a thirteenth transistor, coupled between the
third node and a ground reference voltage, and a gate of which
receives a voltage bias signal.
16. The phase locked loop of claim 15 wherein the first and second
transistors comprise PMOS transistors, and wherein third, fourth,
fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and
thirteenth transistors comprise NMOS transistors.
17. The phase locked loop of claim 12 wherein the pulse width
filter comprises first, second and third transistors in series
between a first voltage supply and a ground reference voltage,
gates of the first and second transistors receiving one of the
first and second control signals; a delay circuit receiving the one
of the first and second control signals to generate a delayed
control signal, the control signal being applied to a gate of the
third transistor; a corresponding one of the first and second
auxiliary control signals being provided at a node between the
first and second transistors.
18. The phase locked loop of claim 12 wherein the second charge
pump comprises a third current source and a third charge pump
transistor in series between a first voltage supply and a second
node, and a fourth charge pump transistor and a fourth current
source in series between the second node and a ground reference
voltage, the third charge pump transistor being activated in
response to the first auxiliary control signal and the second
charge pump transistor being activated in response to the second
auxiliary control signal, the second charge pump providing the
auxiliary charge pump signal at the second node.
19. The phase locked loop of claim 18 wherein the third charge pump
transistor comprises a PMOS transistor and wherein the first
auxiliary control signal comprises an inverted auxiliary up control
signal and wherein the fourth charge pump transistor comprises an
NMOS transistor and wherein the second control signal comprises the
auxiliary down control signal.
20. The phase locked loop of claim 1 wherein the loop filter
further includes a first capacitor between the first input of the
operational amplifier and a ground reference voltage and a second
capacitor between the output of the operational amplifier and the
ground reference voltage.
21. A phase locked loop comprising: a phase detector that receives
a reference clock signal and a feedback clock signal, compares a
difference in phase between the reference clock signal and the
feedback clock signal, and generates first and second control
signals in response to the comparison; a first charge pump that
receives the first and second control signals and that, in
response, generates a first charge pump signal; a pulse width
filter that receives the first control signal, and in response,
generates a first auxiliary control signal when the first control
signal is active for greater than a first predetermined time
period, and that receives the second control signal, and in
response, generates a second auxiliary control signal when the
second control signal is active for greater than a second
predetermined time period; a second charge pump that receives the
first and second auxiliary control signals and, in response,
generates an auxiliary charge pump signal; a loop filter that
receives the first charge pump signal and, in response, generates a
control voltage, the loop filter comprising an operational
amplifier having a first input that receives in combination the
first charge pump signal and the auxiliary charge pump signal,
second and third inputs that receive the first and second control
signals respectively, and a fourth input that receives the control
voltage, and an output that generates the control voltage in
response to the signals provided at the first, second, third and
fourth inputs; and a voltage controlled oscillator that receives
the control voltage signal and, in response, generates the
reference clock signal.
22. The phase locked loop of claim 21 further comprising a control
signal generator that receives the first and second auxiliary
control signals and if either of the first and second auxiliary
control signals is active, generates a third control signal, and
wherein the operational amplifier includes a fifth input that
receives the third control signal, and generates the control
voltage further in response to the third control signal.
23. The phase locked loop of claim 22 wherein the control signal
generator comprises an OR gate, a first input of which receives the
first auxiliary control signal, a second input of which receives
the second auxiliary control signal, and an output of which
generates the third control signal
24. The phase locked loop of claim 21 wherein the first control
signal comprises an up control signal and wherein the second
control signal comprises a down control signal.
25. The phase locked loop of claim 24 wherein the first control
signal is activated in response to the rising edge of the reference
clock signal and the second control signal is activated in response
to the rising edge of the feedback clock signal.
26. The phase locked loop of claim 21 wherein when the phase locked
loop operates in a first mode of operation, the reference clock
signal and the feedback clock signal are substantially locked and
when the phase locked loop operates in a second mode of operation,
the reference clock signal and the feedback clock signal are out of
phase by at least a predetermined amount; and wherein, when the
phase locked loop operates in the first mode, the first charge pump
is active and the second charge pump is inactive; and when the
phase locked loop operates in the second mode of operation, the
first charge pump is active and the second charge pump is
active.
27. A phase locked loop comprising: a phase detector that receives
a reference clock signal and a feedback clock signal, compares a
difference in phase of the reference clock signal and the feedback
clock signal, and generates first and second control signals in
response to the comparison; a first charge pump that receives the
first and second control signals and that, in response, generates a
first charge pump signal; a pulse width filter that receives the
first control signal, and in response, generates a first auxiliary
control signal when the first control signal is active for greater
than a first predetermined time period, and that receives the
second control signal, and in response, generates a second
auxiliary control signal when the second control signal is active
for greater than a second predetermined time period; a second
charge pump that receives the first and second auxiliary control
signals and, in response, generates a second charge pump signal; a
third charge pump that receives the first and second control
signals and, in response, generates a third charge pump signal; a
fourth charge pump that receives the first and second control
signals and the first and second auxiliary control signals and, in
response, generates a fourth charge pump signal; a loop filter
comprising an operational amplifier having a first input that
receives in combination the first charge pump signal and the second
charge pump signal, having a second input that receives in
combination the third charge pump signal, the fourth charge pump
signal and a control voltage signal, and having an output that
generates the control voltage signal in response to the signals
provided at the first and second inputs; and a voltage controlled
oscillator that receives the control voltage signal and, in
response, generates the reference clock signal.
28. The phase locked loop of claim 27 wherein when the phase locked
loop operates in a first mode of operation, the reference clock
signal and the feedback clock signal are substantially locked and
when the phase locked loop operates in a second mode of operation,
the reference clock signal and the feedback clock signal are out of
phase by at least a predetermined amount; and wherein, when the
phase locked loop operates in the first mode, the first charge
pump, third charge pump and fourth charge pump are active and the
second charge pump is inactive; and when the phase locked loop
operates in the second mode of operation, the first charge pump,
second charge pump and third charge pump are active and the fourth
charge pump is inactive.
29. The phase locked loop of claim 27 wherein the first charge pump
comprises a first current source and a first charge pump transistor
in series between a first voltage supply and a first node, and a
second charge pump transistor and a second current source in series
between the first node and a ground reference voltage, the first
charge pump transistor being activated in response to the first
control signal and the second charge pump transistor being
activated in response to the second control signal, the first
charge pump providing the first charge pump signal at the first
node.
30. The phase locked loop of claim 27 wherein the second charge
pump comprises a third current source and a third charge pump
transistor in series between a first voltage supply and a second
node, and a fourth charge pump transistor and a fourth current
source in series between the second node and a ground reference
voltage, the third charge pump transistor being activated in
response to the first auxiliary control signal and the second
charge pump transistor being activated in response to the second
auxiliary control signal, the second charge pump providing the
second charge pump signal at the second node.
31. The phase locked loop of claim 27 wherein the third charge pump
comprises a fifth current source and a fifth charge pump transistor
in series between a first voltage supply and a third node, and a
sixth charge pump transistor and a sixth current source in series
between the third node and a ground reference voltage, the fifth
charge pump transistor being activated in response to the first
control signal and the sixth charge pump transistor being activated
in response to the second control signal, the third charge pump
providing the third charge pump signal at the third node.
32. The phase locked loop of claim 27 wherein the fourth charge
pump comprises a seventh current source and seventh and eighth
charge pump transistors in series between a first voltage supply
and a fourth node, and ninth and tenth charge pump transistors and
an eighth current source in series between the third node and a
ground reference voltage, the seventh charge pump transistor being
activated in response to the first control signal, the eighth
charge pump transistor being activated in response to the first
auxiliary control signal, the ninth charge pump transistor being
activated in response to the second auxiliary control signal and
the tenth charge pump transistor being activated in response to the
second control signal, the fourth charge pump providing the fourth
charge pump signal at the fourth node.
33. A memory device comprising: a plurality of addressable memory
cells, each cell comprising a data storage element; a decoder that
receives an address from an external source, and that generates a
row signal and a column signal for accessing at least one of the
addressable memory cells; and a phase locked loop comprising: a
first charge pump that receives first and second control signals
generated in response to a comparison of phases of a reference
clock signal and a feedback signal and that, in response, generates
a first charge pump signal; a loop filter comprising an operational
amplifier having a first input that receives the first charge pump
signal, second and third inputs that receive the first and second
control signals respectively, and a fourth input that receives a
control voltage, and an output that generates the control voltage
in response to the signals provided at the first, second, third and
fourth inputs; and a voltage controlled oscillator that receives
the control voltage signal and, in response, generates the feedback
clock signal.
34. The memory device of claim 33 wherein the operational amplifier
of the loop filter comprises a first operational amplifier and
wherein the control voltage generated by the first operational
amplifier comprises a first control voltage, and further comprising
a second operational amplifier that receives the first control
voltage at a first input and that generates a second control
voltage that is provided to the voltage controlled oscillator, a
second input of the second operational amplifier receiving the
second control voltage via a feedback path.
35. The memory device of claim 33 further comprising: a pulse width
filter that receives the first control signal, and in response,
generates a first auxiliary control signal when the first control
signal is active for greater than a first predetermined time
period; and that receives the second control signal, and in
response, generates a second auxiliary control signal when the
second control signal is active for greater than a second
predetermined time period; and a second charge pump that receives
the first and second auxiliary control signals and, in response,
generates an auxiliary charge pump signal, the auxiliary charge
pump signal being applied to the first input of the operational
amplifier in combination with the first charge pump signal.
36. The memory device of claim 35 further comprising a control
signal generator that receives the first and second auxiliary
control signals and that, if either of the first and second
auxiliary control signals is active, generates a third control
signal, and wherein the operational amplifier includes a fifth
input that receives the third control signal, and generates the
control voltage further in response to the third control
signal.
37. A memory device comprising: a plurality of addressable memory
cells, each cell comprising a data storage element; a decoder that
receives an address from an external source, and that generates a
row signal and a column signal for accessing at least one of the
addressable memory cells; and a phase locked loop comprising: a
phase detector that receives a reference clock signal and a
feedback clock signal, compares a difference in phase of the
reference clock signal and the feedback clock signal, and generates
first and second control signals in response to the comparison; a
first charge pump that receives the first and second control
signals and that, in response, generates a first charge pump
signal; a pulse width filter that receives the first control
signal, and in response, generates a first auxiliary control signal
when the first control signal is active for greater than a first
predetermined time period, and that receives the second control
signal, and in response, generates a second auxiliary control
signal when the second control signal is active for greater than a
second predetermined time period; a second charge pump that
receives the first and second auxiliary control signals and, in
response, generates a second charge pump signal; a third charge
pump that receives the first and second control signals and, in
response, generates a third charge pump signal; a fourth charge
pump that receives the first and second control signals and the
first and second auxiliary control signals and, in response,
generates a fourth charge pump signal; a loop filter comprising an
operational amplifier having a first input that receives in
combination the first charge pump signal and the second charge pump
signal, having a second input that receives in combination the
third charge pump signal, the fourth charge pump signal and a
control voltage signal, and having an output that generates the
control voltage signal in response to the signals provided at the
first and second inputs; and a voltage controlled oscillator that
receives the control voltage signal and, in response, generates the
reference clock signal.
38. A memory system comprising: a memory controller that generates
command and address signals; and a memory module comprising a
plurality of memory devices, the memory module receiving the
command and address signals and in response storing and retrieving
data to and from the memory device, wherein each memory device
comprises: a plurality of addressable memory cells, each cell
comprising a data storage element; a decoder that receives an
address from an external source, and that generates a row signal
and a column signal for accessing at least one of the addressable
memory cells; and a phase locked loop comprising: a first charge
pump that receives first and second control signals generated in
response to a comparison of phases of a reference clock signal and
a feedback signal and that, in response, generates a first charge
pump signal; a loop filter comprising an operational amplifier
having a first input that receives the first charge pump signal,
second and third inputs that receive the first and second control
signals respectively, and a fourth input that receives a control
voltage, and an output that generates the control voltage in
response to the signals provided at the first, second, third and
fourth inputs; and a voltage controlled oscillator that receives
the control voltage signal and, in response, generates the feedback
clock signal.
39. The memory system of claim 38 wherein the operational amplifier
of the loop filter comprises a first operational amplifier and
wherein the control voltage generated by the first operational
amplifier comprises a first control voltage, and further comprising
a second operational amplifier that receives the first control
voltage at a first input and that generates a second control
voltage that is provided to the voltage controlled oscillator, a
second input of the second operational amplifier receiving the
second control voltage via a feedback path.
40. The memory system of claim 38 further comprising: a pulse width
filter that receives the first control signal, and in response,
generates a first auxiliary control signal when the first control
signal is active for greater than a first predetermined time
period; and that receives the second control signal, and in
response, generates a second auxiliary control signal when the
second control signal is active for greater than a second
predetermined time period; and a second charge pump that receives
the first and second auxiliary control signals and, in response,
generates an auxiliary charge pump signal, the auxiliary charge
pump signal being applied to the first input of the operational
amplifier in combination with the first charge pump signal.
41. The memory system of claim 40 further comprising a control
signal generator that receives the first and second auxiliary
control signals and that, if either of the first and second
auxiliary control signals is active, generates a third control
signal, and wherein the operational amplifier includes a fifth
input that receives the third control signal, and generates the
control voltage further in response to the third control
signal.
42. A memory system comprising: a memory controller that generates
command and address signals; and a memory module comprising a
plurality of memory devices, the memory module receiving the
command and address signals and in response storing and retrieving
data to and from the memory device, wherein each memory device
comprises: a plurality of addressable memory cells, each cell
comprising a data storage element; a decoder that receives an
address from an external source, and that generates a row signal
and a column signal for accessing at least one of the addressable
memory cells; and a phase locked loop comprising: a phase detector
that receives a reference clock signal and a feedback clock signal,
compares a difference in phase of the reference clock signal and
the feedback clock signal, and generates first and second control
signals in response to the comparison; a first charge pump that
receives the first and second control signals and that, in
response, generates a first charge pump signal; a pulse width
filter that receives the first control signal, and in response,
generates a first auxiliary control signal when the first control
signal is active for greater than a first predetermined time
period, and that receives the second control signal, and in
response, generates a second auxiliary control signal when the
second control signal is active for greater than a second
predetermined time period; a second charge pump that receives the
first and second auxiliary control signals and, in response,
generates a second charge pump signal; a third charge pump that
receives the first and second control signals and, in response,
generates a third charge pump signal; a fourth charge pump that
receives the first and second control signals and the first and
second auxiliary control signals and, in response, generates a
fourth charge pump signal; a loop filter comprising an operational
amplifier having a first input that receives in combination the
first charge pump signal and the second charge pump signal, having
a second input that receives in combination the third charge pump
signal, the fourth charge pump signal and a control voltage signal,
and having an output that generates the control voltage signal in
response to the signals provided at the first and second inputs;
and a voltage controlled oscillator that receives the control
voltage signal and, in response, generates the reference clock
signal.
43. A method comprising: receiving at a first charge pump first and
second control signals generated in response to a comparison of
phases of a reference clock signal and a feedback signal and, in
response, generating a first charge pump signal; receiving at an
operational amplifier the first charge pump signal at a first
input, receiving the first and second control signals respectively
at second and third inputs of the operational amplifier, and
receiving a control voltage at a fourth input of the operational
amplifier, and generating, at an output of the operational
amplifier, the control voltage in response to the signals provided
at the first, second, third and fourth inputs; and receiving the
control voltage signal at a voltage controlled oscillator, and, in
response, generating the feedback clock signal.
44. The method of claim 43 wherein the operational amplifier
comprises a first operational amplifier and wherein the control
voltage generated by the first operational amplifier comprises a
first control voltage, and further comprising receiving at a second
operational amplifier the first control voltage at a first input
and generating a second control voltage that is provided to the
voltage controlled oscillator, a second input of the second
operational amplifier receiving the second control voltage via a
feedback path.
45. The method of claim 43 further comprising: receiving at a pulse
width filter the first control signal, and in response, generating
a first auxiliary control signal when the first control signal is
active for greater than a first predetermined time period; and
receiving at the pulse width filter the second control signal, and
in response, generating a second auxiliary control signal when the
second control signal is active for greater than a second
predetermined time period; and receiving at a second charge pump
the first and second auxiliary control signals and, in response,
generating an auxiliary charge pump signal, the auxiliary charge
pump signal being applied to the first input of the operational
amplifier in combination with the first charge pump signal.
46. The method of claim 45 further comprising receiving at a
control signal generator the first and second auxiliary control
signals and, if either of the first and second auxiliary control
signals is active, generating a third control signal, and receiving
at a fifth input of the operational amplifier the third control
signal, and generating at the output of the operational amplifier
the control voltage further in response to the third control
signal.
47. A method comprising: receiving at a phase detector, a reference
clock signal and a feedback clock signal, comparing a difference in
phase of the reference clock signal and the feedback clock signal,
and generating first and second control signals in response to the
comparison; receiving at a first charge pump the first and second
control signals and, in response, generating a first charge pump
signal; receiving at a pulse width filter the first control signal,
and in response, generating a first auxiliary control signal when
the first control signal is active for greater than a first
predetermined time period, and receiving the second control signal,
and in response, generating a second auxiliary control signal when
the second control signal is active for greater than a second
predetermined time period; receiving at a second charge pump the
first and second auxiliary control signals and, in response,
generating a second charge pump signal; receiving at a third charge
pump the first and second control signals and, in response,
generating a third charge pump signal; receiving at a fourth charge
pump the first and second control signals and the first and second
auxiliary control signals and, in response, generating a fourth
charge pump signal; receiving at a loop filter comprising an
operational amplifier in combination at a first input the first
charge pump signal and the second charge pump signal, receiving in
combination at a second input the third charge pump signal, the
fourth charge pump signal and a control voltage signal, and
generating at an output the control voltage signal in response to
the signals provided at the first and second inputs; and receiving
at a voltage controlled oscillator the control voltage signal and,
in response, generating the reference clock signal.
Description
RELATED APPLCATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to
Korean Patent Application KR2004-24570, filed Apr. 9, 2004, the
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Communication between integrated circuit systems commonly
requires that the phase and/or frequency of an input signal be
matched, or "locked" to a local signal, such as a clock signal. A
typical system for accomplishing this is the phase-locked loop
(PLL).
[0003] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional phase locked
loop configuration. The conventional PLL 11 includes a phase
frequency detector (PFD) 10, a first charge pump (CP) 12, an
operational amplifier 16, and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO)
18. An optional second charge pump (CP) 14 may also be
included.
[0004] The phase frequency detector 10 measures a phase difference
between a received reference clock signal RCLK and a feedback clock
signal VCLK. In response to the difference in phase between the
clock signals, the phase frequency detector 10 generates an up
control signal up and a down control signal dn, which are provided
to the first charge pump 12. The first charge pump 12, in turn,
charges and discharges a first capacitor C.sub.p of a loop filter
in response to the up control signal up and down control signal dn,
in turn generating a loop filter control voltage V.sub.p. The loop
filter control voltage V.sub.p is provided to the VCO to determine
the output frequency of the VCO 18.
[0005] In combination, the first charge pump 12 and first capacitor
provide a pole for the feedback loop, however, it is preferred that
a loop-stabilizing zero also be included in order to maintain
stability in the phase locked loop. A resistor can be placed in
series with the first capacitor C.sub.p for this purpose. This
embodiment, however, is prone to process and temperature variation,
which, in turn, can lead to variable operation characteristics. In
addition, the value of the series resistor is difficult to adjust
and reproduce accurately.
[0006] In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a zero for the
feedback loop is provided by the combination of the second charge
pump 14, the operational amplifier 16, and a second capacitor
C.sub.c. The second charge pump 14 receives the up control signal
up and down control signal dn, and, in response, charges and
discharges the second capacitor C.sub.c. The operational amplifier
16 receives at a positive input terminal the loop filter control
voltage V.sub.p, and provides, at an output terminal, a VCO control
voltage V.sub.c, that is applied to the second capacitor C.sub.c. A
closed-loop negative feedback signal is provided between the output
terminal and negative input terminal of the operational amplifier
16. The VCO control voltage V.sub.c is applied to the VCO to
determine the output frequency of the VCO 18.
[0007] While the configuration of FIG. 1 provides for a relatively
stable phase locked loop operation, the current I.sub.p that is
provided by the first charge pump 12 is fixed, and therefore, the
locking time period for the loop is less than optimal. Also, the
second charge pump 14 used in combination with the operational
amplifier 16 to improve loop stability requires a large area of the
chip die, leading to manufacturing inefficiencies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is directed to a semiconductor device
that includes an adaptive phase locked loop with improved loop
stability and a faster locking rate. In one embodiment, this is
accomplished in a manner that does not require an additional second
charge pump for loop stability, and therefore the resulting phase
locked loop of the present invention consumes less chip die area.
In another embodiment, multiple charge pumps are used and the
resulting response time for locking is improved over that which can
be achieved by conventional embodiments.
[0009] In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a
phase locked loop. A first charge pump receives first and second
control signals generated in response to a comparison of phases of
a reference clock signal and a feedback signal and, in response,
generates a first charge pump signal. A loop filter includes an
operational amplifier having a first input that receives the first
charge pump signal, second and third inputs that receive the first
and second control signals respectively, and a fourth input that
receives a control voltage, and an output that generates the
control voltage in response to the signals provided at the first,
second, third and fourth inputs. A voltage controlled oscillator
receives the control voltage and, in response, generates the
feedback clock signal.
[0010] In one embodiment, a phase detector receives the reference
clock signal and the feedback clock signal, compares their
respective phases, and generates the first and second control
signals in response to the comparison. In another embodiment, a
phase-frequency detector receives the reference clock signal and
the feedback clock signal, compares their respective phases and
frequencies, and generates the first and second control signals in
response to the comparison.
[0011] In another embodiment, the first control signal comprises an
up control signal and wherein the second control signal comprises a
down control signal. The first control signal is activated in
response to the rising edge of the reference clock signal and the
second control signal is activated in response to the rising edge
of the feedback clock signal.
[0012] In another embodiment, the operational amplifier comprises:
a first transistor, coupled between a first voltage supply and a
first node, and a gate of which is coupled to a drain of which at a
first node; a second transistor, coupled between the first voltage
supply and a second node, and a gate of which is coupled to the
first node; a third transistor and a fourth transistor coupled in
series between the first node and a third node, a gate of one of
the third and fourth transistors being coupled to the first control
signal and a gate of the other of the third and fourth transistors
being coupled to the first charge pump signal; a fifth transistor,
coupled between the first node and the third node, and a gate of
which is coupled to the first charge pump signal; a sixth
transistor and a seventh transistor coupled in series between the
second node and the third node, a gate of one of the sixth and
seventh transistors being coupled to the second control signal and
a gate of the other of the sixth and seventh transistors being
coupled to the control voltage signal; an eighth transistor,
coupled between the second node and the third node, a gate of which
is coupled to the control voltage signal; and a ninth transistor,
coupled between the third node and a ground reference voltage, and
a gate of which receives a voltage bias signal. The first and
second transistors comprise PMOS transistors, and the third,
fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth transistors
comprise NMOS transistors.
[0013] In another embodiment, the voltage bias signal is derived
from the first charge pump signal
[0014] In another embodiment, the first charge pump comprises a
first current source and a first charge pump transistor in series
between a first voltage supply and a first node, and a second
charge pump transistor and a second current source in series
between the first node and a ground reference voltage, the first
charge pump transistor being activated in response to the first
control signal and the second charge pump transistor being
activated in response to the second control signal, the first
charge pump providing the charge pump signal at the first node. The
first charge pump transistor comprises a PMOS transistor and the
first control signal comprises an inverted up control signal; the
second charge pump transistor comprises an NMOS transistor and the
second control signal comprises a down control signal.
[0015] In another embodiment, the operational amplifier of the loop
filter comprises a first operational amplifier and the control
voltage generated by the first operational amplifier comprises a
first control voltage, and a second operational amplifier receives
the first control voltage at a first input and that generates a
second control voltage that is provided to the voltage controlled
oscillator, a second input of the second operational amplifier
receiving the second control voltage via a feedback path.
[0016] In another embodiment, the phase locked loop further
comprises: a pulse width filter that receives the first control
signal, and in response, generates a first auxiliary control signal
when the first control signal is active for greater than a first
predetermined time period; and that receives the second control
signal, and in response, generates a second auxiliary control
signal when the second control signal is active for greater than a
second predetermined time period; and a second charge pump that
receives the first and second auxiliary control signals and, in
response, generates an auxiliary charge pump signal, the auxiliary
charge pump signal being applied to the first input of the
operational amplifier in combination with the first charge pump
signal. A control signal generator receives the first and second
auxiliary control signals and, if either of the first and second
auxiliary control signals is active, generates a third control
signal, and the operational amplifier includes a fifth input that
receives the third control signal, and generates the control
voltage further in response to the third control signal. In another
embodiment, the control signal generator comprises an OR gate, a
first input of which receives the first auxiliary control signal, a
second input of which receives the second auxiliary control signal,
and an output of which provides the third control signal.
[0017] In another embodiment, the operational amplifier comprises:
a first transistor, coupled between a first voltage supply and a
first node, and a gate of which is coupled to a drain of which at a
first node; a second transistor, coupled between the first voltage
supply and a second node, and a gate of which is coupled to the
first node; a third transistor and a fourth transistor coupled in
series between the first node and a third node, a gate of one of
the third and fourth transistors being coupled to the first control
signal and a gate of the other of the third and fourth transistors
being coupled to the first charge pump signal; a fifth transistor
and a sixth transistor coupled in series between the first node and
the third node, a gate of one of the fifth and sixth transistors
being coupled to the third control signal and a gate of the other
of the fifth and sixth transistors being coupled to the first
charge pump signal; a seventh transistor, coupled between the first
node and the third node, a gate of which is coupled to the charge
pump signal; a eighth transistor and a ninth transistor coupled in
series between the second node and the third node, a gate of one of
the eighth and ninth transistors being coupled to the second
control signal and a gate of the other of the eighth and ninth NMOS
transistors being coupled to the control voltage signal; a tenth
transistor and an eleventh transistor coupled in series between the
second node and the third node, a gate of one of the tenth and
eleventh transistors being coupled to the third control signal and
a gate of the other of the tenth and eleventh transistors being
coupled to the control voltage signal; a twelfth transistor,
coupled between the second node and the third node, and a gate of
which is coupled to the control voltage signal; and a thirteenth
transistor, coupled between the third node and a ground reference
voltage, and a gate of which receives a voltage bias signal. The
first and second transistors comprise PMOS transistors, and wherein
third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth,
eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth transistors comprise NMOS
transistors.
[0018] In another embodiment, the pulse width filter comprises
first, second and third transistors in series between a first
voltage supply and a ground reference voltage, gates of the first
and second transistors receiving one of the first and second
control signals; a delay circuit receiving the one of the first and
second control signals to generate a delayed control signal, the
control signal being applied to a gate of the third transistor; a
corresponding one of the first and second auxiliary control signals
being provided at a node between the first and second
transistors.
[0019] In another embodiment, the second charge pump comprises a
third current source and a third charge pump transistor in series
between a first voltage supply and a second node, and a fourth
charge pump transistor and a fourth current source in series
between the second node and a ground reference voltage, the third
charge pump transistor being activated in response to the first
auxiliary control signal and the second charge pump transistor
being activated in response to the second auxiliary control signal,
the second charge pump providing the auxiliary charge pump signal
at the second node. The third charge pump transistor comprises a
PMOS transistor and the first auxiliary control signal comprises an
inverted auxiliary up control signal and the fourth charge pump
transistor comprises an NMOS transistor and the second control
signal comprises the auxiliary down control signal.
[0020] In another embodiment, the loop filter further includes a
first capacitor between the first input of the operational
amplifier and a ground reference voltage and a second capacitor
between the output of the operational amplifier and the ground
reference voltage.
[0021] In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a
phase locked loop comprising: a phase detector that receives a
reference clock signal and a feedback clock signal, compares a
difference in phase between the reference clock signal and the
feedback clock signal, and generates first and second control
signals in response to the comparison; a first charge pump that
receives the first and second control signals and that, in
response, generates a first charge pump signal; a pulse width
filter that receives the first control signal, and in response,
generates a first auxiliary control signal when the first control
signal is active for greater than a first predetermined time
period, and that receives the second control signal, and in
response, generates a second auxiliary control signal when the
second control signal is active for greater than a second
predetermined time period; and a second charge pump that receives
the first and second auxiliary control signals and, in response,
generates an auxiliary charge pump signal; a loop filter that
receives the first charge pump signal and, in response, generates a
control voltage, the loop filter comprising an operational
amplifier having a first input that receives in combination the
first charge pump signal and the auxiliary charge pump signal,
second and third inputs that receive the first and second control
signals respectively, and a fourth input that receives a control
voltage, and an output that generates the control voltage in
response to the signals provided at the first, second, third and
fourth inputs; and a voltage controlled oscillator that receives
the control voltage and, in response, generates the reference clock
signal.
[0022] In one embodiment, a control signal generator receives the
first and second auxiliary control signals and if either of the
first and second auxiliary control signals is active, generates a
third control signal, and the operational amplifier includes a
fifth input that receives the third control signal, and generates
the control voltage further in response to the third control
signal. The control signal generator comprises an OR gate, a first
input of which receives the first auxiliary control signal, a
second input of which receives the second auxiliary control signal,
and an output of which generates the third control signal
[0023] In one embodiment, when the phase locked loop operates in a
first mode of operation, the reference clock signal and the
feedback clock signal are substantially locked and when the phase
locked loop operates in a second mode of operation, the reference
clock signal and the feedback clock signal are out of phase by at
least a predetermined amount; and wherein, when the phase locked
loop operates in the first mode, the first charge pump is active
and the second charge pump is inactive; and when the phase locked
loop operates in the second mode of operation, the first charge
pump is active and the second charge pump is active.
[0024] In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a
phase locked loop comprising: a phase detector that receives a
reference clock signal and a feedback clock signal, compares a
difference in phase of the reference clock signal and the feedback
clock signal, and generates first and second control signals in
response to the comparison; a first charge pump that receives the
first and second control signals and that, in response, generates a
first charge pump signal; a pulse width filter that receives the
first control signal, and in response, generates a first auxiliary
control signal when the first control signal is active for greater
than a first predetermined time period, and that receives the
second control signal, and in response, generates a second
auxiliary control signal when the second control signal is active
for greater than a second predetermined time period; a second
charge pump that receives the first and second auxiliary control
signals and, in response, generates a second charge pump signal; a
third charge pump that receives the first and second control
signals and, in response, generates a third charge pump signal; a
fourth charge pump that receives the first and second control
signals and the first and second auxiliary control signals and, in
response, generates a fourth charge pump signal; a loop filter
comprising an operational amplifier having a first input that
receives in combination the first charge pump signal and the second
charge pump signal, having a second input that receives in
combination the third charge pump signal, the fourth charge pump
signal and a control voltage signal, and having an output that
generates the control voltage signal in response to the signals
provided at the first and second inputs; and a voltage controlled
oscillator that receives the control voltage and, in response,
generates the reference clock signal.
[0025] In one embodiment, when the phase locked loop operates in a
first mode of operation, the reference clock signal and the
feedback clock signal are substantially locked and when the phase
locked loop operates in a second mode of operation, the reference
clock signal and the feedback clock signal are out of phase by at
least a predetermined amount; and wherein, when the phase locked
loop operates in the first mode, the first charge pump, third
charge pump and fourth charge pump are active and the second charge
pump is inactive; and when the phase locked loop operates in the
second mode of operation, the first charge pump, second charge pump
and third charge pump are active and the fourth charge pump is
inactive.
[0026] In one embodiment, the first charge pump comprises a first
current source and a first charge pump transistor in series between
a first voltage supply and a first node, and a second charge pump
transistor and a second current source in series between the first
node and a ground reference voltage, the first charge pump
transistor being activated in response to the first control signal
and the second charge pump transistor being activated in response
to the second control signal, the first charge pump providing the
first charge pump signal at the first node.
[0027] In one embodiment, the second charge pump comprises a third
current source and a third charge pump transistor in series between
a first voltage supply and a second node, and a fourth charge pump
transistor and a fourth current source in series between the second
node and a ground reference voltage, the third charge pump
transistor being activated in response to the first auxiliary
control signal and the second charge pump transistor being
activated in response to the second auxiliary control signal, the
second charge pump providing the second charge pump signal at the
second node.
[0028] In one embodiment, the third charge pump comprises a fifth
current source and a fifth charge pump transistor in series between
a first voltage supply and a third node, and a sixth charge pump
transistor and a sixth current source in series between the third
node and a ground reference voltage, the fifth charge pump
transistor being activated in response to the first control signal
and the sixth charge pump transistor being activated in response to
the second control signal, the third charge pump providing the
third charge pump signal at the third node.
[0029] In one embodiment, the fourth charge pump comprises a
seventh current source and seventh and eighth charge pump
transistors in series between a first voltage supply and a fourth
node, and ninth and tenth charge pump transistors and an eighth
current source in series between the third node and a ground
reference voltage, the seventh charge pump transistor being
activated in response to the first control signal, the eighth
charge pump transistor being activated in response to the first
auxiliary control signal, the ninth charge pump transistor being
activated in response to the second auxiliary control signal and
the tenth charge pump transistor being activated in response to the
second control signal, the fourth charge pump providing the fourth
charge pump signal at the fourth node.
[0030] In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a
memory device comprising: a plurality of addressable memory cells,
each cell comprising a data storage element; a decoder that
receives an address from an external source, and that generates a
row signal and a column signal for accessing at least one of the
addressable memory cells; and a phase locked loop. The phase locked
loop comprises: a first charge pump that receives first and second
control signals generated in response to a comparison of phases of
a reference clock signal and a feedback signal and that, in
response, generates a first charge pump signal; a loop filter
comprising an operational amplifier having a first input that
receives the first charge pump signal, second and third inputs that
receive the first and second control signals respectively, and a
fourth input that receives a control voltage, and an output that
generates the control voltage in response to the signals provided
at the first, second, third and fourth inputs; and a voltage
controlled oscillator that receives the control voltage signal and,
in response, generates the feedback clock signal.
[0031] In one embodiment, the operational amplifier of the loop
filter comprises a first operational amplifier and wherein the
control voltage generated by the first operational amplifier
comprises a first control voltage, and further comprising a second
operational amplifier that receives the first control voltage at a
first input and that generates a second control voltage that is
provided to the voltage controlled oscillator, a second input of
the second operational amplifier receiving the second control
voltage via a feedback path.
[0032] In another embodiment, the memory device further comprises:
a pulse width filter that receives the first control signal, and in
response, generates a first auxiliary control signal when the first
control signal is active for greater than a first predetermined
time period; and that receives the second control signal, and in
response, generates a second auxiliary control signal when the
second control signal is active for greater than a second
predetermined time period; and a second charge pump that receives
the first and second auxiliary control signals and, in response,
generates an auxiliary charge pump signal, the auxiliary charge
pump signal being applied to the first input of the operational
amplifier in combination with the first charge pump signal.
[0033] In another embodiment, the memory device further comprises a
control signal generator that receives the first and second
auxiliary control signals and that, if either of the first and
second auxiliary control signals is active, generates a third
control signal, and wherein the operational amplifier includes a
fifth input that receives the third control signal, and generates
the control voltage further in response to the third control
signal.
[0034] In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a
memory device comprising: a plurality of addressable memory cells,
each cell comprising a data storage element; a decoder that
receives an address from an external source, and that generates a
row signal and a column signal for accessing at least one of the
addressable memory cells; and a phase locked loop. The phase locked
loop comprises a phase detector that receives a reference clock
signal and a feedback clock signal, compares a difference in phase
of the reference clock signal and the feedback clock signal, and
generates first and second control signals in response to the
comparison; a first charge pump that receives the first and second
control signals and that, in response, generates a first charge
pump signal; a pulse width filter that receives the first control
signal, and in response, generates a first auxiliary control signal
when the first control signal is active for greater than a first
predetermined time period, and that receives the second control
signal, and in response, generates a second auxiliary control
signal when the second control signal is active for greater than a
second predetermined time period; a second charge pump that
receives the first and second auxiliary control signals and, in
response, generates a second charge pump signal; a third charge
pump that receives the first and second control signals and, in
response, generates a third charge pump signal; a fourth charge
pump that receives the first and second control signals and the
first and second auxiliary control signals and, in response,
generates a fourth charge pump signal; a loop filter comprising an
operational amplifier having a first input that receives in
combination the first charge pump signal and the second charge pump
signal, having a second input that receives in combination the
third charge pump signal, the fourth charge pump signal and a
control voltage signal, and having an output that generates the
control voltage signal in response to the signals provided at the
first and second inputs; and a voltage controlled oscillator that
receives the control voltage signal and, in response, generates the
reference clock signal.
[0035] In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a
memory system comprising: a memory controller that generates
command and address signals; and a memory module comprising a
plurality of memory devices, the memory module receiving the
command and address signals and in response storing and retrieving
data to and from the memory device, wherein each memory device
comprises: a plurality of addressable memory cells, each cell
comprising a data storage element; a decoder that receives an
address from an external source, and that generates a row signal
and a column signal for accessing at least one of the addressable
memory cells; and a phase locked loop. The phase locked loop
comprises: a first charge pump that receives first and second
control signals generated in response to a comparison of phases of
a reference clock signal and a feedback signal and that, in
response, generates a first charge pump signal; a loop filter
comprising an operational amplifier having a first input that
receives the first charge pump signal, second and third inputs that
receive the first and second control signals respectively, and a
fourth input that receives a control voltage, and an output that
generates the control voltage in response to the signals provided
at the first, second, third and fourth inputs; and a voltage
controlled oscillator that receives the control voltage signal and,
in response, generates the feedback clock signal.
[0036] In one embodiment, the operational amplifier of the loop
filter comprises a first operational amplifier and wherein the
control voltage generated by the first operational amplifier
comprises a first control voltage, and further comprising a second
operational amplifier that receives the first control voltage at a
first input and that generates a second control voltage that is
provided to the voltage controlled oscillator, a second input of
the second operational amplifier receiving the second control
voltage via a feedback path.
[0037] In another embodiment, the memory system further comprises:
a pulse width filter that receives the first control signal, and in
response, generates a first auxiliary control signal when the first
control signal is active for greater than a first predetermined
time period; and that receives the second control signal, and in
response, generates a second auxiliary control signal when the
second control signal is active for greater than a second
predetermined time period; and a second charge pump that receives
the first and second auxiliary control signals and, in response,
generates an auxiliary charge pump signal, the auxiliary charge
pump signal being applied to the first input of the operational
amplifier in combination with the first charge pump signal.
[0038] In another embodiment, the memory system further comprises a
control signal generator that receives the first and second
auxiliary control signals and that, if either of the first and
second auxiliary control signals is active, generates a third
control signal, and wherein the operational amplifier includes a
fifth input that receives the third control signal, and generates
the control voltage further in response to the third control
signal.
[0039] In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a
memory system comprising: a memory controller that generates
command and address signals; and a memory module comprising a
plurality of memory devices, the memory module receiving the
command and address signals and in response storing and retrieving
data to and from the memory device, wherein each memory device
comprises: a plurality of addressable memory cells, each cell
comprising a data storage element; a decoder that receives an
address from an external source, and that generates a row signal
and a column signal for accessing at least one of the addressable
memory cells; and a phase locked loop. The phase locked loop
comprises: a phase detector that receives a reference clock signal
and a feedback clock signal, compares a difference in phase of the
reference clock signal and the feedback clock signal, and generates
first and second control signals in response to the comparison; a
first charge pump that receives the first and second control
signals and that, in response, generates a first charge pump
signal; a pulse width filter that receives the first control
signal, and in response, generates a first auxiliary control signal
when the first control signal is active for greater than a first
predetermined time period, and that receives the second control
signal, and in response, generates a second auxiliary control
signal when the second control signal is active for greater than a
second predetermined time period; a second charge pump that
receives the first and second auxiliary control signals and, in
response, generates a second charge pump signal; a third charge
pump that receives the first and second control signals and, in
response, generates a third charge pump signal; a fourth charge
pump that receives the first and second control signals and the
first and second auxiliary control signals and, in response,
generates a fourth charge pump signal; a loop filter comprising an
operational amplifier having a first input that receives in
combination the first charge pump signal and the second charge pump
signal, having a second input that receives in combination the
third charge pump signal, the fourth charge pump signal and a
control voltage signal, and having an output that generates the
control voltage signal in response to the signals provided at the
first and second inputs; and a voltage controlled oscillator that
receives the control voltage signal and, in response, generates the
reference clock signal.
[0040] In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a
method comprising: receiving at a first charge pump first and
second control signals generated in response to a comparison of
phases of a reference clock signal and a feedback signal and, in
response, generating a first charge pump signal; receiving at an
operational amplifier the first charge pump signal at a first
input, receiving the first and second control signals respectively
at second and third inputs of the operational amplifier, and
receiving a control voltage at a fourth input of the operational
amplifier, and generating, at an output of the operational
amplifier, the control voltage in response to the signals provided
at the first, second, third and fourth inputs; and receiving the
control voltage signal at a voltage controlled oscillator, and, in
response, generating the feedback clock signal.
[0041] In one embodiment of the method, the operational amplifier
comprises a first operational amplifier and wherein the control
voltage generated by the first operational amplifier comprises a
first control voltage, and further comprising receiving at a second
operational amplifier the first control voltage at a first input
and generating a second control voltage that is provided to the
voltage controlled oscillator, a second input of the second
operational amplifier receiving the second control voltage via a
feedback path.
[0042] In another embodiment, the method further comprises:
receiving at a pulse width filter the first control signal, and in
response, generating a first auxiliary control signal when the
first control signal is active for greater than a first
predetermined time period; and receiving at the pulse width filter
the second control signal, and in response, generating a second
auxiliary control signal when the second control signal is active
for greater than a second predetermined time period; and receiving
at a second charge pump the first and second auxiliary control
signals and, in response, generating an auxiliary charge pump
signal, the auxiliary charge pump signal being applied to the first
input of the operational amplifier in combination with the first
charge pump signal.
[0043] In another embodiment, the method further comprises:
receiving at a control signal generator the first and second
auxiliary control signals and, if either of the first and second
auxiliary control signals is active, generating a third control
signal, and receiving at a fifth input of the operational amplifier
the third control signal, and generating at the output of the
operational amplifier the control voltage further in response to
the third control signal.
[0044] In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a
method comprising: receiving at a phase detector, a reference clock
signal and a feedback clock signal, comparing a difference in phase
of the reference clock signal and the feedback clock signal, and
generating first and second control signals in response to the
comparison; receiving at a first charge pump the first and second
control signals and, in response, generating a first charge pump
signal; receiving at a pulse width filter the first control signal,
and in response, generating a first auxiliary control signal when
the first control signal is active for greater than a first
predetermined time period, and receiving the second control signal,
and in response, generating a second auxiliary control signal when
the second control signal is active for greater than a second
predetermined time period; receiving at a second charge pump the
first and second auxiliary control signals and, in response,
generating a second charge pump signal; receiving at a third charge
pump the first and second control signals and, in response,
generating a third charge pump signal; receiving at a fourth charge
pump the first and second control signals and the first and second
auxiliary control signals and, in response, generating a fourth
charge pump signal; receiving at a loop filter comprising an
operational amplifier in combination at a first input the first
charge pump signal and the second charge pump signal, receiving in
combination at a second input the third charge pump signal, the
fourth charge pump signal and a control voltage signal, and
generating at an output the control voltage signal in response to
the signals provided at the first and second inputs; and receiving
at a voltage controlled oscillator the control voltage signal and,
in response, generating the reference clock signal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of
the invention will be apparent from the more particular description
of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to
the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not
necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon
illustrating the principles of the invention.
[0046] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional phase locked
loop configuration.
[0047] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a phase locked
loop configuration in accordance with the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 3 is a detailed schematic diagram of the operational
amplifier of the phase locked loop of FIG. 2, in accordance with
the present invention.
[0049] FIG. 4A is a first timing diagram of signals of the phase
locked loop of FIG. 2, in the case where the reference clock signal
leads the feedback output clock signal, in accordance with the
present invention.
[0050] FIG. 4B is a second timing diagram of signals of the phase
locked loop of FIG. 2, in the case where the reference clock signal
lags the feedback clock signal, in accordance with the present
invention.
[0051] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a phase
locked loop configuration in accordance with the present
invention.
[0052] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of a phase
locked loop configuration in accordance with the present
invention.
[0053] FIG. 7 is a detailed schematic diagram of the pulse width
filter (PWF) of the third phase locked loop embodiment of FIG. 6,
in accordance with the present invention.
[0054] FIG. 8A is a first timing diagram of signals of the pulse
width filter of the third phase locked loop embodiment of FIG. 2,
in the case where the reference clock signal leads the output clock
signal, in accordance with the present invention.
[0055] FIG. 8B is a second timing diagram of signals of the pulse
width filter of the third phase locked loop embodiment of FIG. 2,
in the case where the reference clock signal lags the output clock
signal, in accordance with the present invention.
[0056] FIGS. 9A and 9B are detailed schematic diagrams of the first
44 and second 46 charge pumps (CP) respectively of the third phase
locked loop embodiment of FIG. 6, in accordance with the present
invention.
[0057] FIG. 10 is a detailed schematic diagram of the operational
amplifier of the third phase locked loop embodiment of FIG. 6, in
accordance with the present invention.
[0058] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of a phase
locked loop configuration in accordance with the present
invention.
[0059] FIGS. 12A and 12B are detailed schematic diagrams of the
third and fourth charge pumps respectively of the fourth phase
locked loop embodiment of FIG. 11, in accordance with the present
invention.
[0060] FIGS. 13A_1 and 13A_2 are timing diagrams of signals of the
fourth phase locked loop embodiment of FIG. 11, illustrating the
first mode of operation of the fourth embodiment, in accordance
with the present invention.
[0061] FIGS. 13B_1 and 13B_2 are additional timing diagrams of
signals of the fourth phase locked loop embodiment of FIG. 11,
illustrating the first and second modes of operation of the fourth
embodiment, in accordance with the present invention.
[0062] FIG. 14 is a waveform diagram, illustrating the step
response of the third phase locked loop embodiment of FIG. 6, in
accordance with the present invention, as compared to the response
of the conventional apparatus.
[0063] FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a memory system in accordance
with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0064] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a phase locked
loop (PLL) configuration in accordance with the present invention.
The PLL 21 includes a phase frequency detector (PFD) 20, a first
charge pump (CP) 22, an operational amplifier 24, and a voltage
controlled oscillator (VCO) 26.
[0065] The phase frequency detector 20 measures a phase difference
between a received reference clock signal RCLK and a feedback clock
signal VCLK. In response to the difference in phase between the
clock signals, the phase frequency detector 20 generates an up
control signal up and a down control signal dn, which are provided
to the first charge pump 22. The first charge pump 22, in turn,
charges and discharges a first capacitor C.sub.p of a loop filter
in response to the up control signal up and down control signal dn,
in turn generating a loop filter control voltage or first charge
pump voltage V.sub.p. The first charge pump voltage V.sub.p is
provided as an input to the multiple-input operational amplifier 24
(in this case, a four-input operational amplifier) at a positive
input terminal. In addition, the up control signal up is provided
to a positive input terminal of the multiple-input operational
amplifier 24 and the down control signal dn is provided to a
negative input terminal of the multiple-input operational amplifier
24. Also, a negative feedback loop of the operational amplifier is
provided between an output of the operational amplifier 24 and a
negative input terminal of the operational amplifier 24.
[0066] The output of the operational amplifier 24 is applied to a
second capacitor C.sub.c, and the resulting voltage across the
second capacitor C.sub.c is applied to the VCO 26 as a VCO control
voltage V.sub.c to determine the output frequency of the VCO 26.
The output signal of the VCO 26 is applied to the phase frequency
detector 20 as the feedback clock signal VCLK.
[0067] In this embodiment of the present invention, in combination,
the first charge pump 22 and first capacitor C.sub.p provide a pole
for the feedback loop. A loop-stabilizing zero is provided by the
operational amplifier 24 receiving the down control signal dn and
up control signal up. The control voltage V.sub.c for the VCO 26 is
provided solely by the output of the multiple-input operational
amplifier 24. In this manner, a loop-stabilizing zero is provided
without the inclusion of a resistor, which has the limitations
described above in connection with the conventional embodiment. In
addition, a second charge pump is not necessary in this embodiment
for providing the loop-stabilizing zero, and therefore circuit size
can be reduced.
[0068] FIG. 3 is a detailed schematic diagram of the operational
amplifier 24 of the phase locked loop of FIG. 2, in accordance with
the present invention. The operational amplifier 24 includes a
first PMOS transistor P1, a source of which is connected to a first
voltage source Vcc, and a gate and drain of which are connected to
a first node a. A second PMOS transistor P2, has a source that is
connected to the first power source Vcc, a gate that is connected
to the first node a, and a drain that is connected to a second node
b. A first NMOS transistor N1 and a second NMOS transistor N2 are
coupled in series between the first node a and a third node c, a
gate of one of the first and second NMOS transistors, for example
transistor N1, being coupled to the up control signal up and a gate
of the other of the first and second NMOS transistors, for example
transistor N2, being coupled to the first charge pump signal
V.sub.p. The order of the series of the first and second NMOS
transistors N1, N2 can be reversed. A third NMOS transistor N3
includes a drain that is coupled to the first node a, a gate that
is coupled to the first charge pump signal V.sub.p, and a source
that is coupled to the third node c. A fourth NMOS transistor N4
and a fifth NMOS transistor N5 are coupled in series between the
second node b and the third node c, a gate of one of the fourth and
fifth NMOS transistors, for example transistor N4, being coupled to
the down control signal dn and a gate of the other of the fourth
and fifth NMOS transistors, for example transistor N5, being
coupled to the second node b. The order of the series of the fourth
and fifth NMOS transistors N4, N5 can be reversed. A sixth NMOS
transistor N6 includes a drain that is coupled to the second node
b, a gate that is coupled to the second node b, and a source that
is coupled to the third node c. A seventh NMOS transistor N7, has a
drain that is coupled to the third node c, a source that is coupled
to a ground reference voltage, and a gate of which receives a
voltage bias signal V.sub.b. The voltage bias signal V.sub.b is
generated by a voltage bias generator 28, which receives the first
charge pump signal V.sub.p, and, in response to the voltage level
of the first charge pump signal V.sub.p, generates the voltage bias
signal V.sub.b.
[0069] In this manner, the operational amplifier 24 includes a
single output, namely the second node b, which provides the control
voltage V.sub.c for the VCO. The operational amplifier also
includes four inputs, namely, the up control signal up and the
first charge pump signal V.sub.p, which are received at positive
input terminals of the operational amplifier, and the down control
signal dn and the control voltage V.sub.c for the VCO (the output
signal of the operational amplifier 24), which are received at
negative input terminals of the operational amplifier 24.
[0070] In other embodiments, such as those discussed below, the
operational amplifier 24 can include additional, or fewer, positive
and negative input terminals of a number that depends on the
application of the phase locked loop.
[0071] When the up control signal up is enabled, the output voltage
of the second node b becomes larger than that of the first node a.
This is because, while the up control signal up is enabled, the
channel width between the first node a and the third node c becomes
larger than the channel width between the second node b and the
third node c, because the first NMOS transistor N1 is activated by
the active up control signal up, and the fourth NMOS transistor N4
is deactivated because the down control signal dn is inactive
during this time. Under these conditions, the offset voltage
(V.sub.p-V.sub.c) has a negative voltage value.
[0072] For the opposite case, when the down control signal dn is
enabled (accordingly, the up control signal up becomes disabled),
the output voltage of the second node b becomes smaller than that
of the first node a. This is because, while the down control signal
down is enabled, the channel width between the first node a and the
third node c becomes smaller than the channel width between the
second node b and the third node c, because the first NMOS
transistor N1 is deactivated by the inactive up control signal up,
and the fourth NMOS transistor N4 is activated because the down
control signal dn is active during this time. Under these
conditions, the offset voltage (V.sub.p-V.sub.c) has a positive
voltage value.
[0073] The offset voltage (V.sub.p-V.sub.c), Vos, can be
represented as Vos=(Iop/Gm)*(.DELTA.w/w), where lop is the current
flowing through the seventh NMOS transistor N7, Gm is the
conductance of the operational amplifier, W is the channel width of
the N3 and N6 transistors of FIG. 3, and .DELTA.w is the channel
width of the N2 and N5 transistors of FIG. 3
[0074] An advantage of the present first embodiment of the present
invention lies in that the voltage V.sub.c provided at the output
of the operational amplifier 24 is provided solely by the
operational amplifier 24 and thus, no additional charge pump is
needed for this purpose.
[0075] FIG. 4A is a first timing diagram of signals of the phase
locked loop of FIG. 2, in the case where the reference clock signal
RCLK leads the feedback clock signal VCLK, in accordance with the
present invention. At the rising edge of the RCLK signal, the up
control signal up is activated by the phase frequency detector 20.
With activation of the up control signal up, the first charge pump
22 causes the first charge pump signal V.sub.p to charge the first
capacitor C.sub.p, and thus V.sub.p increases at a first rate and
the VCO control voltage V.sub.c increases at a second rate that is
faster than the first rate due to the negative offset voltage of
the operational amplifier 24. Following this, at the rising edge of
the VCLK signal, the down control signal down is activated by the
phase frequency detector 20. With activation of the down control
signal down, the first charge pump 22 causes the first charge pump
signal V.sub.p to maintain the charge of the capacitor C.sub.p, and
thus V.sub.p remains the same and the VCO control voltage V.sub.c
begins to decrease until it is approximately equal to the negative
offset voltage (Vp-Vc) of the operational amplifier 24. The overlap
time of the up control signal up and the down control signal dn
signal is determined by the internal delay of the phase frequency
detector. The overlap time is fixed and does not vary according to
the input condition.
[0076] This process repeats until the feedback clock signal VCLK is
aligned with, and therefore locked with, the reference clock signal
RCLK.
[0077] FIG. 4B is a second timing diagram of signals of the phase
locked loop of FIG. 2, in the case where the reference clock signal
RCLK lags the feedback clock signal VCLK, in accordance with the
present invention. At the rising edge of the VCLK signal, the down
control signal down is activated by the phase frequency detector
20. With activation of the down control signal down, the first
charge pump 22 causes the first charge pump signal V.sub.p to
discharge the first capacitor C.sub.p, and thus V.sub.p decreases
at a first rate and the VCO control voltage V.sub.c decreases at a
second rate that is faster than the first rate due to the positive
offset voltage of the operational amplifier 24. Following this, at
the rising edge of the RCLK signal, the up control signal up is
activated by the phase frequency detector 20. With activation of
the up control signal up, the first charge pump 22 causes the first
charge pump signal V.sub.p to maintain the charge of the capacitor
C.sub.p, and thus V.sub.p remains the same, and the VCO control
voltage V.sub.c begins to increase until it is approximately equal
to the positive offset voltage (Vp-Vc) of the operational amplifier
24. This process repeats until the feedback clock signal VCLK is
aligned with, and therefore locked with, the reference clock signal
RCLK.
[0078] In this manner, the direct application of the up control
signal up and the down control signal dn to the operational
amplifier affects the difference in effective channel widths
between the first node a and third node c, and between the second
node b and third node c. In the case where the up control signal up
is activated, the effective channel width of the N3 transistor is
increased by activation of the N1 transistor. Thus, a negative
offset voltage is applied to the operational amplifier. In the case
where the down control signal dn is activated, the effective
channel width of the N6 transistor is increased by activation of
the N4 transistor. Thus, a positive offset voltage is applied to
the operational amplifier.
[0079] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a phase
locked loop configuration in accordance with the present invention.
In this configuration, the VCO control voltage V.sub.c is applied
to a positive input terminal of a second operational amplifier 30.
The output terminal of the second operational amplifier 30 provides
a third voltage Vz that is fed back to a negative input terminal of
the second operational amplifier 30 to provide a negative feedback
loop. The third voltage Vz is applied to an input of the VCO 26 as
a control voltage for the VCO. The third voltage Vz provided in
this embodiment, has reduced jitter, as compared to the control
voltage V.sub.c, which leads to more stable operation in the phase
locked loop. Also, the second operational amplifier 30 operates as
a current buffer for the VCO control voltage V.sub.c signal, to
ensure that sufficient current is provided to the VCO 26.
[0080] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of a phase
locked loop configuration in accordance with the present invention.
In this embodiment, the phase locked loop circuit 41 includes a
phase frequency detector (PFD) 40, a first charge pump (CP) 44, an
operational amplifier 50, and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO)
52. As in the first and second embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 5 above,
the phase frequency detector 40 measures a phase difference between
a received reference clock signal RCLK and a feedback clock signal
VCLK. In response to the difference in phase between the clock
signals, the phase frequency detector 40 generates an up control
signal up and a down control signal dn, which are provided to the
first charge pump 44. The first charge pump 44, in turn, generates
a first current I1 which is applied to a first capacitor C.sub.p of
a loop filter in response to the up control signal up and down
control signal dn to charge and discharge the capacitor C.sub.p.
The first charge pump voltage V.sub.p, or the voltage across the
capacitor C.sub.p, is provided as an input to the multiple-input
operational amplifier 50 (in this case, a five-input operational
amplifier) at a positive input terminal. In addition, the up
control signal up is provided directly to a positive input terminal
of the multiple-input operational amplifier 50 and the down control
signal dn is provided directly to a negative input terminal of the
multiple-input operational amplifier 50. Also, as in the first and
second embodiments above, a negative feedback loop of the
operational amplifier is provided between an output of the
operational amplifier 50 at node V.sub.c and a negative input
terminal of the operational amplifier 50.
[0081] The third embodiment of FIG. 6 further includes a pulse
width filter (PWF) 42 and a second charge pump 46. The pulse width
filter 42 receives the up control signal up and down control signal
dn, and, in turn, generates an auxiliary up control signal aup and
an auxiliary down control signal adn. The auxiliary up control
signal aup and the auxiliary down control signal adn are applied to
the second charge pump 46, which outputs second current signal I2
which, along with the first current signal I1 of the first charge
pump 44, is applied to the first capacitor C.sub.p of the loop
filter in response to the auxiliary up control signal aup and
auxiliary down control signal adn to charge and discharge the
capacitor C.sub.p l Thus, the first combined current Ia applied to
the capacitor C.sub.p is equal to the combined output currents of
the first and second charge pumps, Ia=I1+I2.
[0082] The auxiliary up control signal aup and auxiliary down
control signal adn are further provided to a control signal
generator 48 that, in response, generates a control signal con. In
one embodiment, the control signal generator 48 comprises an OR
gate. The control signal con is in turn applied to both a positive
input terminal and a negative input terminal of the multiple-input
operational amplifier 50. When the phase error of the input signal
is large, the first combined current Ia is increased due to the
large increase in the second current signal I2. The loop bandwidth
of the PLL is also increased due to the increase in the level of
the second current signal I2. In this case, to ensure stable
operation, the zero position of the PLL should also be increased,
which means that the amount of offset in the operational amplifier
should be decreased. By applying the control signal con to the
positive and negative input terminals of the operational amplifier
50 under these conditions, this reduces the amount of offset in the
operational amplifier by increasing the effective width of the
input transistors N3, N6.
[0083] FIG. 7 is a detailed schematic diagram of the pulse width 4
filter (PWF) 42 of the third phase locked loop embodiment of FIG.
6, in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 7, an
exemplary pulse width filter 42 that receives the up control signal
up and generates an auxiliary up control signal aup is presented. A
similar circuit can be used for processing the down control signal
dn to generate an auxiliary down control signal adn.
[0084] In this embodiment, a third PMOS transistor P3, and eighth
and ninth NMOS transistors N8, N9 are connected serially between
the voltage source Vcc and the ground reference voltage. A delay
circuit DL including a plurality of inverters I1, I2, I3, I4 delay
the up control signal up, and apply a resulting delayed up signal
dup to the gate of the ninth NMOS transistor N9. The up control
signal up is applied to the gates of the third PMOS transistor P3
and the eighth NMOS transistor N8. A signal at a node d between the
third PMOS transistor P3 and the eighth NMOS transistor N8 is
applied to a fifth inverter I5, the output of which is the
auxiliary up control signal aup. The auxiliary up control signal
aup is further applied to a sixth inverter I6, the output of which
is an inverted auxiliary up control signal aup.
[0085] The pulse width filter of FIGS. 6 and 7 enables locking of
the phase locked loop at an accelerated pace. When the up control
signal is active, and has at least a predetermined pulse width, the
transistors N8 and N9 are activated at the same time. Thus, the
resulting auxiliary up control signal aup, is of a short pulse
duration, the length of which is the difference in pulse length
between the duration of the up control signal up less the
predetermined delay length of the delay circuit DL. The delay
length of the delay circuit is controlled by the number of
inverters included in the delay chain. The same operation applies
to generation of the auxiliary down control signal adn.
[0086] FIG. 8A is a first timing diagram of signals of the pulse
width filter 42 of the third phase locked loop embodiment of FIG.
2, in the case where the reference clock signal leads the feedback
clock signal, in accordance with the present invention. In this
case, at the rising edge of the up control signal up, the delayed
up control signal dup is activated following the predetermined
delay of the inverter chain. At activation of the delayed up
control signal dup, the up control signal up is still active, and
therefore, the signal at node d is changed from a high level to a
low level, and the corresponding auxiliary up control signal aup,
become active at a high level. The auxiliary up control signal aup
remains active until the up control signal up becomes inactive, at
its falling edge.
[0087] FIG. 8B is a second timing diagram of signals of the pulse
width filter 42 of the third phase locked loop embodiment of FIG.
2, in the case where the reference clock signal lags the output
clock signal, in accordance with the present invention. In this
case, the up control signal is a relatively short pulse, and does
not remain active long enough to span the delay of the delay
circuit DL. For this reason, the signal at node d is not changed to
a low level, and accordingly, the auxiliary up control signal aup
does not become active. In this case, assuming the down control
signal dn is activated, the corresponding auxiliary down control
signal adn becomes activated for a short pulse duration in a manner
similar to the auxiliary up control signal aup of FIG. 8A.
[0088] FIGS. 9A and 9B are detailed schematic diagrams of the first
44 and second 46 charge pumps (CP) respectively of the third phase
locked loop embodiment of FIG. 6, in accordance with the present
invention. The first charge pump 44 of FIG. 9A includes a first
current source Ip, a fourth PMOS transistor P4, a tenth NMOS
transistor N10 and a second current source Ip in series between the
voltage source Vcc and the ground voltage. An inverted up control
signal upb is applied to a gate of the fourth PMOS transistor P4
and the down control signal dn is applied to a gate of the tenth
NMOS transistor N10. The signal at a node between the fourth PMOS
transistor P4 and the tenth NMOS transistor N10 is provided as the
first current I1. The charge pump 44 of FIG. 9A is applicable as
the first charge pump 44 of FIG. 6 and as the charge pump 22 of
FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 (and as charge pump 64 of FIG. 11, discussed
below).
[0089] The second charge pump 46 of FIG. 9B includes a third
current source (n-1)Ip, a fifth PMOS transistor P5, an eleventh
NMOS transistor N11 and a fourth current source (n-1)Ip in series
between the voltage source Vcc and the ground voltage. An inverted
auxiliary up control signal aupb is applied to a gate of the fifth
PMOS transistor P5 and the auxiliary down control signal adn is
applied to a gate of the eleventh NMOS transistor N11. The third
and fourth current sources (n-1)Ip are preferably larger in size
than the first and second current sources Ip, thus the value n is
greater than 2. The signal at a node between the fifth PMOS
transistor P5 and the eleventh NMOS transistor N11 is provided as
the first current I2. The charge pump 46 of FIG. 9B is applicable
as the charge pump 46 of FIG. 6 (and as the second charge pump 68
of FIG. 11, discussed below).
[0090] FIG. 10 is a detailed schematic diagram of an embodiment of
the operational amplifier 50 of the third phase locked loop
embodiment of FIG. 6, in accordance with the present invention. The
operational amplifier 50 of FIG. 10 is similar in structure and
operation to the operational amplifier 24 of FIG. 3, in that it
includes the first and second PMOS transistors P1, P2, the first
through seventh NMOS transistors N1, N2, . . . , N7, and the bias
voltage generator 28. In addition, the operational amplifier 50
further includes a twelfth NMOS transistor N12 and a thirteenth
NMOS transistor N13 coupled in series between the first node a and
the third node c. Also, a fourteenth NMOS transistor N14 and a
fifteenth NMOS transistor N15 are coupled in series between the
second node b and the third node c. The control signal con is
applied to a gate of the twelfth NMOS transistor N12 (i.e., a
positive input terminal of the operational amplifier 50), and to a
gate of the fourteenth NMOS transistor N14 (i.e., a negative input
terminal of the operational amplifier 50). The charge pump voltage
V.sub.p, or the voltage across the capacitor C.sub.p, is applied to
the gates of NMOS transistors N13, N2 and N3. The output voltage
V.sub.c is applied to the gates of NMOS transistors N15, N5 and
N6.
[0091] The above-described third embodiment of FIGS. 6-10 allows
for first and second modes of operation in the phase locked loop
41. When the phase locked loop 41 is in a first mode of operation,
the input clock PCLK and feedback clock VCLK signals are
substantially locked and therefore have a relatively small
frequency difference and relatively small phase difference.
Accordingly, the up control signal up and the down control signal
dn have a relatively short pulse. With short pulses in the up and
down control signals up, dn, the auxiliary up and auxiliary down
control signals aup, adn, are not activated, and therefore
operation of the second charge pump 46 and the control signal
generator 48 is disabled.
[0092] When the phase locked loop 41 is however in a second mode of
operation, the input clock PCLK and feedback clock VCLK signals
have a relatively large frequency difference and/or relatively
large phase difference. Accordingly, the up control signal up or
the down control signal dn has a relatively large pulse width. With
a large pulse width in the up or down control signal up, dn, the
corresponding auxiliary up and auxiliary down control signal aup,
adn, is activated, and therefore operation of the second charge
pump 46 and the control signal generator 48 is enabled. Thus, in
the second mode of operation, both first and second charge pumps
44, 46, are activated. In this mode, the second current I2 is
generated by the second charge pump 46 of a value that is larger
than the value of the first current I1 (a positive value in the
case of the up control signal up being generated, and a negative
value in the case of the down control signal dn being generated).
Thus, the first combined current Ia applied to the capacitor
C.sub.p, is much larger in this case for more rapidly charging (in
the case of an up control signal up being generated) or discharging
(in the case of a down control signal dn being generated) the
capacitor C.sub.p. Accordingly the voltage V.sub.p changes at a
greater rate, and thus the output voltage V.sub.c changes at a
greater rate. In this manner, the response time for locking the
input clock PCLK and the feedback clock VCLK in the present
embodiment is much improved.
[0093] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of a phase
locked loop configuration in accordance with the present invention.
In this embodiment, the phase locked loop circuit 61 includes a
phase frequency detector (PFD) 60, a first charge pump (CP) 64, an
operational amplifier 72, and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO)
74. As in the first, second, and third embodiments of FIGS. 2, 5,
and 6 above, the phase frequency detector 60 measures a phase
difference between a received reference clock signal RCLK and a
feedback clock signal VCLK. In response to the difference in phase
between the clock signals, the phase frequency detector 60
generates an up control signal up and a down control signal dn,
which are provided to the first charge pump 64. The first charge
pump 64, in turn, generates a first current I1 which is applied to
a first capacitor C.sub.p of a loop filter in response to the up
control signal up and down control signal dn to charge and
discharge the capacitor C.sub.p. The first charge pump voltage
V.sub.p, or the voltage across the capacitor C.sub.p, is provided
as an input to the operational amplifier 72 (in this case, a
two-input operational amplifier) at a positive input terminal.
Also, as in the first, second, and third embodiments above, a
negative feedback loop of the operational amplifier is provided
between an output of the operational amplifier 72 and a negative
input terminal of the operational amplifier 72.
[0094] As in the third embodiment of FIG. 6, the fourth embodiment
of FIG. 11 further includes a pulse width filter (PWF) 62 and a
second charge pump 68. The pulse width filter 42 receives the up
control signal up and down control signal dn, and, in turn,
generates the auxiliary up control signal aup and the auxiliary
down control signal adn, in the manner described above. The
auxiliary up control signal aup and the auxiliary down control
signal adn are provided to the second charge pump 68, which
provides a second current I2 which, in combination with the first
current I1 of the first charge pump 64, is applied as first
combined current Ia to the first capacitor C.sub.p of the loop
filter in response to the auxiliary up control signal aup and
auxiliary down control signal adn to charge and discharge the
capacitor C.sub.p. Thus, the first combined current Ia applied to
the capacitor C.sub.p is equal to the combined output currents of
the first and second charge pumps, Ia=I1+I2.
[0095] The up control signal up and down control signal dn are
further provided to a third charge pump 66, which generates an
output current I3, The up control signal up, down control signal
dn, auxiliary up control signal aup and auxiliary down control
signal adn are further applied to a fourth charge pump 70 which
generates a fourth output current I4. The second combined current
Ib of the third output current I3 and fourth output current I4 is
applied to the second capacitor C.sub.c at the output node of the
operational amplifier 72, Ib=I3+I4.
[0096] FIGS. 12A and 12B are detailed schematic diagrams of the
third and fourth charge pumps 66, 70 respectively of the fourth
phase locked loop embodiment of FIG. 11, in accordance with the
present invention. The third charge pump 66 of FIG. 12A includes a
fifth current source Ic/n, a sixth PMOS transistor P6, a sixteenth
NMOS transistor N16 and a sixth current source Ic/n in series
between the voltage source Vcc and the ground voltage. An inverted
up control signal uph is applied to a gate of the sixth PMOS
transistor P6 and the down control signal dn is applied to a gate
of the sixteenth NMOS transistor N16. The signal at a node between
the sixth PMOS transistor P6 and the sixteenth NMOS transistor N16
is provided as the third current I3. The current value Ic
represents the sum of the output currents of the third charge pump
66 and the fourth charge pump 70 when the auxiliary up control
signal aup and auxiliary down control signal adn are each
deactivated. This case is discussed with reference to FIGS. 13A_1
and 13A_2 below. In this case Ib=Ic. The current value Ic/n
represents the sum of the output currents of the third charge pump
66 and the fourth charge pump 70 when one of the auxiliary up
control signal aup and auxiliary down control signal adn is
activated. This case is discussed with reference to FIGS. 13B_1 and
13B_2 below. In this case Ib=Ic/n, because only the third charge
pump 66 is activated, and not the fourth charge pump 70.
[0097] The fourth charge pump 70 of FIG. 12B includes a seventh
current source ((n-1)/n)Ic, a seventh PMOS transistor P7, an eighth
PMOS transistor P8, a seventeenth NMOS transistor N17, an
eighteenth NMOS transistor N18 and a eighth current source
((n-1)/n)Ic in series between the voltage source Vcc and the ground
voltage. An inverted up control signal upb is applied to a gate of
the seventh PMOS transistor P7, the auxiliary up control signal aup
is applied to a gate of the eighth PMOS transistor P8, an inverted
auxiliary down control signal adnb is applied to a gate of the
seventeenth NMOS transistor N17 and the down control signal dn is
applied to a gate of the eighteenth NMOS transistor N18. The
seventh and eighth current sources ((n-1)/n)Ic are preferably
larger in size than the fifth and sixth current sources Ic/n, thus
the value n is greater than 2. The signal at a node between the
eighth PMOS transistor P8 and the seventeenth NMOS transistor N17
is provided as the fourth current I4.
[0098] FIGS. 13A_1 and 13A_2 are timing diagrams of signals of the
fourth phase locked loop embodiment of FIG. 11, illustrating the
first mode of operation of the fourth embodiment, in accordance
with the present invention. FIGS. 13B_1 and 13B_2 are additional
timing diagrams of signals of the fourth phase locked loop
embodiment of FIG. 11, illustrating the first and second modes of
operation of the fourth embodiment, in accordance with the present
invention.
[0099] With reference to FIG. 13A_1, in a first mode of operation,
the reference clock signal RCLK leads the feedback clock signal
VCLK by a small amount, in accordance with the present invention.
In this case, the up control signal up is a relatively short pulse,
and does not remain active long enough to span the delay of the
delay circuit DL of the pulse width filter 62. For this reason, the
auxiliary up control signal aup does not become active, as
described above. The first combined positive current signal Ia is
provided in this case solely by the first charge pump 64, as the
second charge pump 68 is inactive. The level of the first combined
current signal Ia is equal to Ip. The second combined positive
current signal Ib is provided in this case by the combined currents
I3, I4 of the third charge pump 66 and the fourth charge pump 70
which are both active. The level of the second combined current
signal Ib is thus equal to Ic.
[0100] With reference to FIG. 13A_2, in the first mode of
operation, the reference clock signal RCLK lags the feedback clock
signal VCLK by a small amount, in accordance with the present
invention. In this case, the down control signal dn is a relatively
short pulse, and does not remain active long enough to span the
delay of the delay circuit DL of the pulse width filter 62. For
this reason, the auxiliary dn control signal adn does not become
active, as described above. The first combined negative current
signal Ia is provided in this case solely by the first charge pump
64, as the second charge pump 68 is inactive. The level of the
first combined current signal Ia is equal to -Ip. The second
combined negative current signal Ib is provided in this case by the
combined negative currents I3, I4 of the third charge pump 66 and
the fourth charge pump 70 which are both active. The level of the
second combined current signal Ib is thus equal to -Ic.
[0101] With reference to FIG. 13B_1, in a second mode of operation,
the reference clock signal RCLK leads the feedback clock signal
VCLK by a relatively large amount, in accordance with the present
invention. In this case, the up control signal up is a relatively
large pulse, and remains active for a long enough time period to
span the delay of the delay circuit DL of the pulse width filter
62. For this reason, the auxiliary up control signal aup becomes
active, as described above. During a first time period T1, the
phase locked loop 61 operates in the first mode of operation
described above, because the auxiliary up control signal aup has
not yet become active. During a second time period T2, following
the first time period, the phase locked loop 61 operates in a
second mode of operation, initiated by the rising edge of the
auxiliary up control signal aup.
[0102] Still referring to FIG. 13B_1, during the first time period
T1, the first combined positive current signal Ia is provided
solely by the first charge pump 64, as the second charge pump 68 is
initially inactive. The level of the first combined current signal
Ia is equal to Ip during this time period. In addition, during the
first time period T1, the second combined positive current signal
Ib is provided by the combined currents I3, I4 of the third charge
pump 66 and the fourth charge pump 70 which are both active. The
level of the second combined current signal Ib is thus equal to Ic
during this time period.
[0103] Still referring to FIG. 13B_1, during the second time period
T2, the first combined positive current signal Ia is provided by
both the first charge pump 64 and the second charge pump 68, as the
second charge pump 68 has become active. The level of the first
combined current signal Ia is equal to the combination of Ip, which
is the output I1 of the first charge pump 64, and (n-1)Ip, which is
the output I2 of the second charge pump 68 during this time period,
which is a combined total current of (n)Ip. In addition, during the
second time period, the second combined positive current signal Ib
is provided in this case solely by current I3 of the third charge
pump 66 which is active during this time period, and not by the
fourth charge pump 70, which has become inactive during this time
period. The level of the second combined current signal Ib is thus
equal to Ic/n during this time period.
[0104] With reference to FIG. 13B_2, in a second mode of operation,
the reference clock signal RCLK lags the feedback clock signal VCLK
by a relatively large amount, in accordance with the present
invention. In this case, the down control signal dn is a relatively
large pulse, and remains active for a long enough time period to
span the delay of the delay circuit DL of the pulse width filter
62. For this reason, the auxiliary down control signal adn becomes
active, as described above. During a first time period T1, the
phase locked loop 61 operates in the first mode of operation
described above, because the auxiliary down control signal adn has
not yet become active. During a second time period T2, following
the first time period, the phase locked loop 61 operates in the
second mode of operation, initiated by the rising edge of the
auxiliary down control signal adn.
[0105] Still referring to FIG. 13B_2, during the first time period
T1, the first combined negative current signal Ia is provided
solely by the first charge pump 64, as the second charge pump 68 is
initially inactive. The level of the first combined negative
current signal Ia is equal to -Ip during this time period. In
addition, during the first time period T1, the second combined
negative current signal Ib is provided by the combined currents I3,
I4 of the third charge pump 66 and the fourth charge pump 70 which
are both active. The level of the second combined current signal Ib
is thus equal to -Ic during this time period.
[0106] Still referring to FIG. 13B_2, during the second time period
T2, the first combined negative current signal Ia is provided by
both the first charge pump 64 and the second charge pump 68, as the
second charge pump 68 has become active. The level of the first
combined current signal Ia is equal to the combination of -Ip,
which is the output I1 of the first charge pump 64, and -(n-1)Ip,
which is the output 12 of the second charge pump 68 during this
time period, which is a combined total current of -(n)Ip. In
addition, during the second time period, the second combined
negative current signal Ib is provided in this case solely by
current I3 of the third charge pump 66 which is active during this
time period, and not by the fourth charge pump 70, which has become
inactive during this time period. The level of the second combined
current signal Ib is thus equal to -Ic/n during this time
period.
[0107] In this manner, during a first mode of operation of the
fourth embodiment of the present invention, when the input clock
RCLK and feedback clock VCLK are relatively similar in phase and
frequency, and are therefore substantially locked, the second
charge pump 68 is inactive, and the first, third, and fourth charge
pumps 64, 66, 70 are active. Thus, the first combined current Ia is
relatively small, and the second combined current Ib is relatively
large.
[0108] In contrast, when the input clock RCLK and feedback clock
are dissimilar in phase and frequency, the auxiliary up/down
control signals are activated, for a time period during which the
phase locked loop enters a second mode of operation. When operating
in the second mode, the first, second and third charge pumps 64,
68, 66, are active, and the fourth charge pump 70 is inactive.
Thus, in the second mode, the first combined current Ia is
relatively large, and the second combined current Ib is relatively
small.
[0109] In this manner, the offset voltage of the operational
amplifier 72 is controlled by application of the second combined
current signal Ib. This has a similar affect on the operation of
the operational amplifier to that of the con signal applied in the
FIG. 6 embodiment above.
[0110] FIG. 14 is a waveform diagram, illustrating the step
response of the third phase locked loop embodiment of FIG. 6, in
accordance with the present invention, as compared to the response
of the conventional apparatus. It can be seen in this diagram that
locking is achieved in the response of the present invention 91 at
a faster rate than that of the conventional embodiment 93. In
addition, once locking is achieved, a steady state of operation is
achieved at a faster rate by the embodiment of the present
invention.
[0111] The present invention is applicable to integrated circuits
of all types, including memory devices and memory systems. In a
memory device embodiment, the memory device includes a plurality of
addressable memory cells, each cell comprising a data storage
element. A decoder receives an address from an external source, and
that generates a row signal and a column signal for accessing at
least one of the addressable memory cells. A phase locked loop
configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention
can be provided on the memory device for receiving signals that are
transmitted from external, off-chip sources.
[0112] FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a memory system in accordance
with the present invention. The memory system includes a memory
controller 100 that generates command (COM) and address signals (BA
(bank address) and ADD) and a memory module 300. The memory module
300 comprises a plurality of memory devices 300-1, 300-2, . . . ,
300-n, and receives the command (COM) and address signals (BA,
ADD). In response, the memory module 300 stores and retrieves data
(Din/Dout) to and from the memory devices 300-1, 300-2, . . . ,
300-n. A phase locked loop in accordance with the present invention
can be provided on the memory devices for receiving signals that
are transmitted from external, off-chip sources.
[0113] While this invention has been particularly shown and
described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in
form and details may be made herein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
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